The Best AI Language Model for You

• Willing to spend $20 or 20€ per month for the “best”? ChatGPT-4.
• Want a generous free tier and almost the best? Claude 2.
• How about when you need up to date / time sensitive info? Bing Chat.
  • But you’ll also need to use the Edge Browser to use Bing Chat.

While there are an absolute metric ton of of choices, these are a good place to start. We’ll look a little in depth further down the page at these and some other options.

But now, let’s give you a little background / basic information so you aren’t completely in the dark. Always nice to have a little bit of firm footing before diving into something.

What are Large Language Models (LLMs)?

You know how your phone suggests the next word when you’re texting? Imagine that, but way smarter and more versatile. This super buff autocomplete can write essays, answer questions, or even generate poetry. It’s like having a really well-read friend who’s always ready to chat, write, or help you find information.

How does it work? The model is trained on a gigantic amount of text from the internet, books, and more. Just like learning a recipe by watching someone cook many times, it learns the “recipe” for language by analyzing lots of it. But remember, while it’s good at mimicking human-like responses, it doesn’t actually ‘understand’ like a human; it predicts the next word based on patterns it’s seen before. And voila, you get answers and text that make sense most of the time! However, keep in mind that while this technology is impressive, it’s still evolving and isn’t perfect yet.

Now, some of these language models are leveling up. They’re becoming able to process not just text but also audio, images, and even video. That’s called “multimodality,” and it means these models can go back and forth between different forms of information, just like humans can.

For example, give it a picture of your plant and ask what’s wrong with it. The model can understand what’s in the image and your text question, then output an answer in text or audio. You can also ask it in text or audio to generate an image for you. While it’s getting better at outputting video, that aspect is still a work in progress.

So how good is this autocomplete? It’s ridiculously, stunningly, frighteningly, awe-inspiringly good. But it’s important to remember that it’s not infallible. These models can sometimes produce incorrect or biased information. Still, the world is already starting to change in fundamental ways because of this technology. And we want to help you keep up.

Curious about how these models work? Just ask them. Whether you need it simplified or you’re looking for a deep dive, you can ask them to explain it to you like you’re a caveman, a 5-year-old, a university student, or even a time traveler from the past.

Want to know more about what they can do? We’ve compiled a list of everyday things it can do, but even though it’s quite long, it barely scratches the surface of LLM and AI possibilities.

What is the Difference Between AI and LLMs?

I asked ChatGPT-4 nicely for an explanation of the differences, and I thought it did a pretty good job. Here’s the analogy it gave me:

Imagine the world of smart machines as a big family called AI, or Artificial Intelligence. This family has all sorts of members: some are good at playing chess, some can recognize faces, and some are even doctors that can help diagnose diseases.

Now, meet one family member who’s a chatterbox: the Large Language Model or LLM. This one is super good at understanding and making words and sentences. It’s like that cousin who’s a spelling bee champ and always has a book in hand.

But wait, some of these LLM “cousins” are getting even cooler. They’re becoming “multimodal,” which means they’re not just word experts; they also know a thing or two about pictures and sounds. Imagine if that book-loving cousin also became a whiz at art and music!

So, to sum it up:

• AI is the big family of smart machines, each good at different things.
• LLM is the talkative cousin who’s a pro at dealing with words.
• Some LLMs are “multimodal,” making them good at more than just words; they understand pictures and sounds too!

And that’s how AI and LLMs fit together in one big, talented family!

Which is the Best AI Language Model for Me?

Something to keep in mind is that all LLMs have different strengths, capabilities, they interact with you in different ways. What the best ai language model will be is very much a personal choice. Don’t be afraid to try more than one and find one that is a good fit for you.

Most you can try out for free, even ChatGPT-4 has a free but less powerful version ChatGPT-3.5. So go out and meet some LLMs and find your favorite. Here’s a break down of the best ai language models to help you decide:

The Main Contenders for Best AI Language Model

• ChatGPT-4
  • Pros: The gold standard, powerful and versatile. Able to generate and understand images. Can generate code and help you learn to code. On mobile you can talk to it and it will talk back.
  • Cons: Costs $20 or 20€ per month.
• Claude 2
  • Pros: Almost as powerful as ChatGPT-4, generous free tier, and a larger context window which is like short term memory for LLMs.
  • Cons: Can’t connect to the web.
• Others
  • Bing Chat: Free fully connected to the web. Uses GPT-4 but can be… “unique” to work with.
  • Poe: Lot’s of different models to choose from, prices / access vary based on model, but many are free to try.
  • Pi and Character AI: Best chatbots for conversation and companionship. Both have mobile apps.
  • ChatGPT-3.5 and Bard: Lower-tier free options but still capable.

Image Generator Models

• Bing Image Creator
  • Pros: Free, easy to get started with, uses DALL-E 3 which is OpenAI’s most current image generator, can output text.
  • Cons: Very heavy handed content filter at the moment, not always as aesthetically pleasing as Midjourney.
• Midjourney
  • Pros: Very aesthetically pleasing. Can generate in different aspect ratios.
  • Cons: Can only be accessed in Discord. Need to pay. Trouble with text in images. Less control than DALL-E 3.
• Leonardo AI
  • Pros: Free tier, lots of different models to choose from.
  • Cons: Good quality but often not as good as DALL-E 3 or Midjourney.
• Canva
  • Pros: The go to option if you need images for social media, generous free tier available, excellent general tool for making digital content.
  • Cons: Limits on some features in the free tier. May not be top of the line in some areas because it’s multipurpose.
• Soooo many more
  • Adobe Firefly, hundreds running on the open source Stable Diffusion XL, all the major stock image players, on and on and on.

What about Open Source Options?

So I wanted to keep this mostly for absolute beginners looking for the best AI language model. And the open source options go from relatively beginner friendly to bleeding edge advanced enterprise level options. So open source is its own can of worms that I might open on a different post sometime in the future. But if you want to jump into open source, hugging face is the place to be, check out some of their guides and get stuck in.

What Can LLMs and AI Do?

In short? The best AI large language models can do almost anything an average human can do digitally, and some things that experts can do digitally. Making video and music is progressing but still not quite there yet. But you probably want examples, and examples are something we have in troves!

Here is just a few of the things that AI and more specifically text language models can do in your daily life:

Simplifying Work Emails

“Drafting emails can be a drag, right? An LLM can help you put together emails that sound professional without taking up your whole lunch break. Just give it a topic and some key points, and watch it work its magic.”

Homework Help

“Stuck on a history essay or a math problem? These models can help point you in the right direction or even offer up a sample essay to kickstart your writing process.”

Cooking Inspiration

“Ever stand in front of the fridge, door wide open, wondering what you can make with the three random ingredients you see? Pop those ingredients into an LLM, and it can whip up a recipe idea for you.”

Daily Reminders and To-Do Lists

“Feeling overwhelmed with tasks? A language model can help you draft to-do lists and set reminders, so you don’t drop the ball on anything.”

Social Media Updates

“Not sure what to post for your friend’s birthday or just want to send out a tweet that doesn’t sound like a robot wrote it? An LLM can help you find just the right words.”

Quick Research

“Got a question but don’t want to wade through Wikipedia articles or Reddit threads? Ask an LLM to summarize it for you.”

Entertainment

“Bored and want a quick joke or a story? Some LLMs can keep you entertained with jokes, fun facts, or even mini-stories.”

Event Planning

“Whether it’s a small dinner party or a weekend outing, an LLM can help you jot down plans, create an itinerary, or even suggest some fun activities.”

Travel Planning

“Planning a trip but don’t know where to start? Type in your destination, and an LLM can outline a simple itinerary for you, complete with must-see sights.”

Shopping Lists

“Need to go grocery shopping but keep forgetting what you need? Tell the LLM what meals you’re planning, and it can help you generate a shopping list so you don’t forget the essentials.”

Text Messages

“Ever spent way too long trying to figure out what to text back on a dating app or to a friend? A language model can help you craft a response that’s both witty and appropriate.”

Learning a New Skill

“Whether it’s knitting, gardening, or cooking, an LLM can offer simple tips, tricks, and how-tos to get you started. We even have a post on how an LLM can help you choose a new hobby.”

News Summaries

“Don’t have time to read the full news article? A language model can summarize the main points for you, so you’re not out of the loop.”

Gift Ideas

“Struggling to think of a good gift for someone? Describe the person to the LLM, and it could offer up some gift suggestions that won’t make it seem like you picked something up last minute.”

Personal Journaling

“Want to keep a journal but don’t know what to write? An LLM can offer prompts or even help you organize your thoughts.”

DIY Projects

“Feeling crafty? Give an LLM an idea of what you’re interested in making, and it can offer simple DIY project ideas along with steps to get you going.”

Health and Fitness Tips

“Looking for quick workout routines or simple healthy recipes? A language model can offer basic suggestions to keep you on track without the need for a personal trainer or a nutritionist.”

Pet Care Advice

“New pet parent? An LLM can offer some general care tips and answer basic questions you might have, like what to feed them or how to puppy-proof your house.”

Mood Boosters

“Feeling down and need a pick-me-up? Ask a language model for a motivational quote or a funny joke to lift your spirits.”

Book and Movie Recommendations

“Ever spend more time scrolling through Netflix or a book store than actually watching or reading something? Just give an LLM your preferences, and it can offer some tailored recommendations.”

Language Learning

“Trying to pick up a new language but don’t know where to start? An LLM can help with simple phrases, translations, and even basic grammar.”

Relationship Advice

“Whether you’re navigating friendship drama or need tips for communicating better with your partner, an LLM can offer general advice to help smooth things over.”

Local Recommendations

“New in town? An LLM can suggest popular restaurants, parks, or activities based on general reviews. While it may not replace local expertise, it’s a start! Just remember some LLMs have knowledge cutoff dates so they might not know places that opened recently.”

Baby Names

“Expecting a new addition but can’t decide on a name? Describe the kind of name you’re looking for, and an LLM can offer up some suggestions.”

Gardening Tips

“Got a plant that looks a little sad or wondering when to plant tomatoes? You can ask an LLM for basic gardening advice to help you get that green thumb.”

Playlist Creation

“Need some tunes for your next road trip or workout? Tell an LLM what vibe you’re going for, and it could suggest songs that fit the mood.”

Study Aids

“From flashcards to summarizing key concepts, a language model can be a great study buddy to help you prepare for that big test without the stress.”

Interview Prep

“Got a job interview coming up and not sure how to prepare? An LLM can help you come up with practice questions and answers, so you go in feeling confident.”

Poetry and Songwriting

“Feeling artistic but don’t know where to start? A language model can help you write poems or even lyrics to your own song.”

Recipe Conversion

“Need to double a recipe or convert measurements? An LLM can do the math for you, so you don’t end up with a kitchen disaster.”

Resume Building

“Updating your resume but not sure how to make your experience stand out? An LLM can help you phrase things in a way that catches an employer’s eye.”

Conflict Resolution Tips

“Got a disagreement with a friend or family member and don’t know how to handle it? An LLM can offer general advice on how to approach the conversation.”

Make Lists of Things LLMs Can Do

“Hi, it’s me, C.B. Daniels, the writer of this article. I generated this list of things you can do with LLMs and you can too! Generate lists upon lists, types of acorns? Yep, an LLM can make a list of that.”

How about at Work?

Everybody can use an extra hand at work. And the more comfortable you are with using a language model at work, the less likely it is you’ll be replaced by AI. It makes your job easier and possibly a bit more secure.

Meeting Summaries

“Missed a meeting or just couldn’t pay attention because it was right after lunch? A language model can quickly summarize the key points if you feed it the transcript or notes. No more FOMO.”

Presentation Prep

“Got to give a presentation but don’t know where to start? A language model can help you outline the main points and even suggest some talking points to make sure you hit it out of the park.”

Drafting Reports

“Reports can be a total snooze-fest to write, right? Give a language model the data and key points, and it can draft a report that will impress even the most nitpicky boss.”

Brainstorming Ideas

“Stuck in a creative rut? A language model can help brainstorm ideas for your next project, campaign, or team-building activity. It’s like having an extra brain in the room.”

Proofreading and Editing

“Don’t have time to triple-check that email or report? A language model can do a quick proofread to make sure you’re not sending something out with glaring errors.”

Office Communication

“Need to write an office-wide announcement or just a message to your team? An LLM can help you find the right tone and words to get your message across clearly.”

Scheduling and Planning

“Juggling multiple projects or team members? A language model can help you draft a schedule or project plan to keep everyone on track.”

Customer Follow-ups

“Too swamped to follow up with clients? A language model can help you draft personalized follow-up emails that don’t sound like they came from a robot.”

Onboarding Guides

“New hires coming in? Use a language model to create simple, easy-to-follow onboarding guides that can get them up to speed without you having to hold their hand.”